Fortica Fortress

Fortica Fortress, locally known as Tvrđava Fortica, lies on the island of Pag, in the county of Zadar in Croatia.

The island of Pag runs parallel along the coast. Its southern tip is only separated from the Dalmatian mainland by a narrow canal, just some 200 meters wide. This canal was already a busy sea route since the 1st century AD.

In the 17th century, Fortica Fortress was built here to protect the merchant ships from pirate attacks and to control trade. There may have been an earlier fortification here. As, according to legend, this was the place where the fleeing Hungarian king Béla IV hid from the Mongol invasion in 1241.

During the 18th century, the military importance of the fortress declined.

The Fortica Fortress is freely accessible. A nice fort on a very barren location, due to the often strong, salty winds.

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